Camp Leroy Johnson
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During WWII, Camp Leroy Johnson was used along with the New Orleans Airport by the Army and Airforce Bomber Squadron for training. Signal and Quartermaster units were trained on the post, which housed a Transportation Corps Officer Candidate School and a Replacement Training Center.
Originally the New Orleans Navy Air Base, the camp was renamed after World War II Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Johnson. He was a native of Caney Creek, Louisiana and served as a Sergeant, U.S. Army. He died on December 15, 1944, near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, shortly after he threw himself on two enemy grenades to save two comrades. In 1947, the base was named Camp Leroy Johnson in his honor.
The camp was part of the lakefront for twenty-two years. In July 1964, a sunset ceremony marked its close, during which the flag was lowered for the last time. Shortly after its close, the University of New Orleans leased the base as a sports complex for its Division I Athletic program.
In 1987, Pope John Paul visited the UNO Lakefront Arena during his visit to the United States. The archdiocese constructed an altar especially for the Pope, only used during his visit. After the outdoor mass, the archdiocese donated the altar structure to the University of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina, the structure received considerable damage and was torn down in 2008.
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Camp Leroy Johnson, 1940s
This naval ceremony commemorated the opening of Camp Leroy Johnson. The hangar is nearly completed in the background. Courtesy of Louisiana Division/City Archives, New Orleans Public Library
Aerial view of Lakefront Arena prior to Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina damaged the roof of the arena, it was deemed unusable by UNO. The parking lot housed FEMA trailers for displaced Lakefront residents in the wake of the storm. Image courtesy of NOLA.com
Pope John Paul II during Papal visit, 1987
On September 12, 1987, the steps leading to the elevated floor of the pavilion were decorated with thousands of yellow flowers. Yellow and white tarps stretched over a curved steel frame, sheltering Pope John Paul II and dozens of local clergy from summer heat. A sudden afternoon thundershower could not move onlookers from their seats. The pavilion was designed by Walk, Haydel & Associates, and built especially for this event. Image courtesy of The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com
Aerial view of Camp Leroy Johnson, 1960s
This image shows the Army stockade area at top of base, where German prisoners were housed when the base was known as the New Orleans Army Air Base. This site is now the parking area for the UNO lakefront arena. Near the top of the photograph (about 3/4 up), you can see the American Standard Building looking from left to right. The only remaining portion of the American Standard company today is the silo. The structure is stripped from the top down, but the words "American Standard" are still visible. Photo from the Louisiana State Library
PBY Catalina flying boat
The PBY Catalina flying boat was manufactured by Consolidated Vultee Aircraft. About 5,000 were built in New Orleans. The Catalina was used mainly for reconnaissance mission and later outfitted with depth charges for submarine hunting in WWII. Photo courtesy of NOLA.com
Inside the Consolidated-Vultee plant on Franklin Avenue
Women worked alongside men, but the government had to convince the company to let black men work in skilled jobs, unlike the nearby Higgins Industries, which had an integrated work force. Photo courtesy of NOLA.com
Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation Logo
Photo courtesy of NOLA.com
Italian POWs
Many Italian soldiers were taken prisoner with the Africa Corps in Tunisia and in the invasion of Sicily. Italian Service Units wore US Army uniforms with an 'Italy' patch, lived in lightly guarded camps, and worked as service and support troops. Many POWs were housed at a compound on the west side of the Army Air Base at the lakefront in the 1960s. The camp was directly across Franklin Avenue from the giant Consolidated Aircraft plant, showing how little concern there was for sabotage in the later stages of the war. This site is now the parking area for the UNO-Lakefront Arena. Photo Courtesy of NOLA.com
Pope John Paul II celebrates an outdoor Mass at the Lakefront
This structure was built for one day. After the ceremony, everything except for the altar was dismantled. Photo courtesy of NOLA.com